Snap-lock fastener for name plates and the like



Mar. 5, 1929. M. w. RQMIG SNAP Loox` FASTENER FOR NAME PLATES' mi? THE )LIKE Filed Nov. 6, 1925 M w q i.

Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

y i UN'IED4 )STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nanars w. noline, lor nLLENfrowN, PENNSYLVANIA, `.issrcfNon r ro L. GRAMMES a soNs, rNc.,A oonrona'rronor MARYLAND.

sNAr-Locx E'AsTENEn-ron NAME :PLATES AND THE Lriin.j

i Application lleid November My invention. relates to fastening rmeans designed; particularly for attaching manufacturers name plates, tablets, escutcheons and the lilre toautomobiles, pianos, furniture and similar articles. j v

According to common practice such plates aresecured by screws or escutcheon pins passing therethrough, butthat is objectionable because the fastening devices are exposed on the outer faces lof the plates, thus detracting fromthe appearance thereof@ Furthermore, the fastenings are susceptible of beingreadjily'removed, and hence do not provide a permanent attachment for the plates as is of course desirable in such instances.

The object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved snap lock fastener vwhich is entirely concealed from view and provides a permanent means of attachment for aname plate, sfo that litcannot be re- Vmoved without injury to the parts and serious defacement of the article towhich it is applied. j y

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple and efficient in construction, and' adapted to be conveniently applied, and which is composed of few parts, and may be easily and cheaply manufactured.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a sectional view, taken on the line l-l of Fig. 2, illustrating the use of my improved snap lock fastener in securing a plate to the base to which it is to be applied;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof partlybroken away;

Fig. 3 is an edge view, partly in section, of the keeper-plate; and

Fig. 4L is an edge view of the plate to be attached, showing the stud projecting rearwardly therefrom.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the several views.

My improved snap lock fastener comprises a stud l and a keeper-plate 2, the latter being formed in the central portion thereof with an opening 3 through which the stud is adapted to be inserted with its end projecting substantially perpendicularly beyond the inner or rear face of the keeper-plate. The stud is polygonal in cross section, and

p arts e. 1,925. j serial No.' 617,385.

vface the keeper-plate is provided witha pair of co-acting vspring retaining members 4L which are in the formofkleaf springs arj ranged in alinement, with their remote ends secured to the marginal portion of the keeperplate by veyelets 5, Except at their outer ends the leaf springs are free andnormally lie against theinner face of the keeper-plate, with their adjacent ends overlapping the opening and` projecting slightly beyond l opposite side lwalls thereof. The free ends of these springs are preferably sharpened as indicated at 6 and are designed to engage with series of teeth or serrations 7 formed on opposite sides of the stud l and extending transversely'thereof. i

.In the application of the invention thestu'd l is soldered or otherwise rigidly` secured to a face-plate 8, such as for instance a manufacturers name plate, and projects rearwardly at substantially right angles thereto. The base 9, to which the plate 8 is to be attached, 1s formed with a recess l0 of smaller size than the face-plate, but of suitable size to receive and entirely contain the keeper-plate 2. The recess is stepped or has its side walls offset to provide an outwardly facing shoulder ll on which the marginal portion of the keeperplate is seated and rigidly secured in position by means of screws 12 preferably passing through the eyelets 5. The keeper-plate and presses them apart so as to pass there-- between. The free vends of the retaining members snap into engagementwith the teeth or serrations 7 on opposite sides of the stud and ride over the same as the stud is thrust home. However, the retaining members positively and securely grip the stud to prevent any movement thereof in the opposite direction, and any effort to withdraw the stud merely causes the sharpened ends'G thereof to bite into the shank and grip it more firmly. The face-plate 8 is thus securely attached to the base 9 and held in position in Which it closes over and entirely covers the recess 10. The parts ot the fastening device are housed Within the recess 10 and completely concealed from view7 and hence in no Way detract trom the appearance of the article. Furthermore, the fastening is permanent and the plate cannotbe removed Without breaking the fastener,- in Whichinstance the recess and keeperplate therein are exposed to vien7 and the article defaced, so that the removal of the plate cannot go unnoticed.

It Will be understood that While a single snap lock fastener Will be sufficient in many instances, any number of the samemay be employed according to the size of the faceplate to be attached.

Various changes may be made in the details7 form and arrangement of the parts Within the scope of the invention, as detined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my inif'ent-ion, I

` claim and desire to protect by Letters Fatent of the United States:

l. A fastening device of the character described comprising an attaching stud, a keeper-plate formed with an opening therethrough to receive the attaching stud, a pair of co-acting spring retaining members disposed on the rear tace of the keeper-plate on opposite sides of said opening, said members having their adjacent members free and nor- 2. A* fastener ofthe character described comprising an attaching stud non-circular in cross-section7 a keeper-plate formed With an opening therethrough to receive the attaching stud, said opening 'being non-circular and conforming substantially in size and shape to the size and cross-sectional shape of said stud and the Wall ot said opening fitting the stud to hold the same against turning movement therein and against any movement in the plane of the keeper-plate, a pair of coacting spring retaining members disposed on the rear face of the keeper-plate on opposite sides of said opening, said members having their adjacent ends free and normally projecting inwardly towards each other beyond the Wall of said opening and adapted to grip the stud therebetween. to prevent its Withdrawal from said opening, Vand eyelets securing the respective members tothe keeperplate and also providing openings for fastening'devices for securing the keeper-plate in position on a support. j

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MORRIS W. ROMIG. 

